London-born photographer Nadine Ijewere has made history as the first black woman to photograph a Vogue cover. Tapped by editor-in-chief and fellow ground breaker Edward Enninful, Ijewere shot rising pop star Dua Lipa for British Vogue‘s January 2019 issue.
Commenting on the big moment in an interview with British Vogue, the 26-year-old Ijewere said, “Honestly, it’s insane! I still find it hard to believe. Even a couple of months ago, I was saying that I hoped to work for Vogue some day, but I thought that dream was years and years away from becoming a reality.
“Beyond what the shoot has done for my career, it means a lot to me on a personal level. When I was studying, there were virtually no female photographers of color in this industry. I feel like in doing this I’m proving to younger girls from a similar background that it’s achievable. It also feels like part of a broader shift within our culture to include far more diversity, both behind the camera and in front of it. As a girl, I never identified with anyone in the pages of magazines. Now, we’re sending a message that everyone is welcome in fashion. There are so many different types of beauty in the world. Let’s celebrate them all!”
The daughter of a Jamarican mother and Nigerian father, Ijewere first landed on our radar with her 2015 “Flowers” portrait series. Since then, she’s been tapped for multiple editorials and ad campaigns and photographed Rihanna for Allure’s October 2018 issue.
Check out the cover below.
